Wednesday, July 19, 2006

Gorillas in the Mist

I'm sitting here at my fucking desk about to have a heart attack. My eyes are watering and my heart is pounding. As is obvious from our "names", this was meant as an anonymous blog amongst the girls where we could vent, share, etc. While we talk about other stuff, it is and will remain primarily a dating (or lack thereof) blog. Don't get me wrong, a miniscule set of (girl) friends we know in real life read and love us. However, imagine if one of our dear male friends ever stumbled across the blog. If it were you, would your eyes water and your heart race like mine is? If you're out there reading (and you know who you are), please just let us know you found it. If I'm right, you've been reading for a bit and are obviously ok with what you read. I just need to know I'm not so anonymous anymore.

Not Miranda




Maybe we were naive in thinking we could continue to be anonymous on this blog. We started off with no readers and now we're getting upwards of 40 comments a day and can even be found by Googling, "Sex and the City." And sure, as NotMiranda said, a few of our girl friends do know about the blog and even a few of our blogger friends have put together some clues to figure out who we are. But the difference between those people and the potential lurkers* who may in fact be people we know, is that we had the control still. I could hang out with NotRebecca (a real friend, someone I know outside of the blogger world who does know about this blog) and then write about our evening, but I could also explain what I meant by certain parts. She knows there is more to me than constantly talking about crushes and kissing and so-and-so who happens to be male. So, for this blog, the four of us take what we do day in and day out and look at it from a different perspective. What worries me about lurkers who know us, is that he (sorry, they) might not realize this.

Reading this blog without knowing the whole story or hearing it straight from me is like reading my secret diary. Of course it's not my every thought and sure, sometimes I have to focus on certain things for the sake of a point, but a lot of stuff in here is heartfelt and not something I would want to be read and known about the next time I see someone in person.

So, like NotMiranda said, if you're out there, and you're feeling like we're pointing right at you...we are. So let us know, ok?


NotCarrie


*Lurkers are those who read but never comment.

20 comments:

pookalu said...

wow, what's up with anonymous blogging's being compromised? why are we all going through this? i'm seriously tempted to just use my real name, and start a new blog.

i don't lurk, but i wanted to say notmiranda and notcharlotte that nothing you've written about men can be misconstrued as horrible in any way. so, in that sense you're safe.

but i understand your concern. you could make your blog private, and only people who know your URL can find it...that way it's not listed in a google search.

NotCarrie said...

Yeah, but what fun is that? haha. Luckily, our blog IS about "No sex" so we're safe on that front. Even my job could find this and I think I'd be ok...although I'd have to take down a few posts;).

We'll see, though. But we're not going anywhere (but up!)

Vixen said...

Well....i think you guys do a good job with the anonymity thing....guess the lurker is just really smart to figure it out or something. Or really tenacious

Shannon said...

I just have to say that the title of this post in relation to what the post is about has me cracking up for some reason :)

If you're worried about friendships busting up because of certain things posted, then I understand the awkwardness, but otherwise, post away.

NotCarrie said...

Just to clarify-no worries about friendships busting up. It's more like feeling a little stupid for telling stories in the recent past that, come to find out, someone may have already read about...you know? And the fact that this IS a blog about dating*, I wouldn't want someone getting the wrong idea about how I perceive situations.

*One of us really needs a date soon, ha!

Lindsey said...

I would be freaked out too. I'm afraid I would be totally worried about everything I posted from now on and who he'd run and tell. *sigh* How could anyone possibly put the pieces of your identity together? I wouldn't have the first clue.

Do you guys have a stat counter? If not, you can get one free at www.statcounter.com
and it will show you each and every person that views your page and their IP address, where they originated from, what link they followed to come here,how long they veiwed your page, EVERYTHING.

GreenLineBoy said...

I think that's every anonymous blogger's worst fear. I only have one person who knows me by blog and in real life. I like to keep it that way. Otherwise the writing wouldn't be real. Or it would be real embarrassing.

Shannon said...

Now I get it.

Whine Girl said...

I haven't said too many embarrasing things (yet), only because I do think someone I know might read the blog.. I'm way too easy to find. First I used my first name. Second, my blog address happens to be my actual aol address as well. Ok so I had no idea what I was doing when I created this. I'm not so anonymous, but the people that I mention in my blog are anonymous in that I give them pseudonyms (mostly). So... I have been limited to what I can say / talk about, therefore I've been thinking about making an anonymous blog so I can talk about other things.

NotMiranda said...

The funny thing is that I'd tell this person every single thing I've written here and probably have told most. A lot of it is just in the not knowing and having thought we lived under the cloak of anonymity from this person. What if I'd talked about all the times I'd smacked his ass? ; )

marisa said...

Don't stop what you're doing! That's the best part of blogging, sharing ideas with people from all over the world. I love reading your stuff because it's honest, comical, and sassy. I've linked to you guys - you can't leave the party now...

;-)

NotCarrie said...

I never leave a party before the fun is over, Emma;)


NotMiranda's right, it's just that we didn't know. I can think back to last week of talking about something that I did write about on here. I HATE retelling a story and I did without knowing!

And she did smack some ass. I was a lady, though.

Whine Girl said...

Hmmm.. you can always block the users IP :-) And then they would think you went under.. just decided to pull the blog.
But then.. they'll read this comment and know you blocked 'em.


haha

Beakerz said...

well, i'm not 'him' but I do hope 'he' writes you.

hugs!!!

jo said...

oh man i would hate it if someone found my annonymous blog. i have a few blogs which serve different purposes but this particular one i keep is secret and no one knows bout it. not that it's that bad that no one can know but it's just the freedom of writing knowing that you're safe there. well i hope whoever he is, he stops lurking and 'fesses up.

Dizzie said...

I HATE lurkers.
I've realized that I put a lot of myself into my blog, and yes, people that know me can read it and get to know things I don't necesarily want them to know about me... anonymity is a comfort, guaranteeing you can say virtually whatever you want without it getting reprecaution.

You're doing a great job, and God forbid you'd quit because people might know whom you are. Keep it up, girls!

NewYorkMoments said...

Yikes...sorry about that. Unfortunately anonymity eventually gets compromised. And it sucks. Because you never feel you can be a free and easy with your writing.

Unfortunately, some of my co-workers found my blog. That sucks.

NotCarrie said...

That does suck, NYM. Luckily there are no ties with this blog for a future employer to find it. Phew!

Anonymous said...

Are you **truly** upset your identities may have been compromised? Or are you like the criminal mastermind who secretly longs to be discovered.. ;)))

NotCarrie said...

sf Vanilla- Whoa! Did they threaten to fire you? Maybe the embarassment is worse. I'd like to find some secret blogs of people I know, though. Haha!